“For Ver, the digital currency is not just a way of storing and moving money without help from the authorities. It’s also a way of seeking justice, something that’s laid out in the Skype chat logs that Ver provided of his conversation with the hacker. Sure, you can wield this type of bounty using other currencies–and many have–but there’s something particularly appropriate about doing it with bitcoin.”

“About a decade ago, Ver’s computer parts-reselling business had about $1 million in goods stolen during a break-in. Tracking parts serial numbers, he located his stolen merchandise in L.A. about a month later. “I called multiple police agencies to let them know I found my stolen parts,” he says. “None of them would lift a finger to help me. I never got any of it back.” But his bounty has been more effective. Within minutes of posting the bounty, Nitrous handed over the new password to Ver’s Hotmail account. And Ver says he hasn’t caused any trouble since.”

Crypto currencies and technology has allowed people to protect themselves more efficiently then calling the police.